The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-15

An Old Negro Who Was Hiding Fugitive in
the Mountains for Seven Months.

A sufferer from the outrageous cruelties Of
slavery whose lifs's story is quite as pathetic as
any that may be found in fiction, is bent ne
gro. with snowy-white wool and q deeply lined
face. well known on the South Side as Uncle
George He was a child Of eight or nine years
at the time Of the battle Of New Orleans, which
was impressed on his memory by tho cabin talk
He was sold In early manhood, and, falling TO
she lot of that masters son as part Of his nher-
Ssance, was again sold to save a prohi2ate's
household goods from debt seizure From that
sale he dates his first experience in slavery
cruelty having previously been well treated
Misery's chain frightened about his neck when he
felt the first sting of the lash. lie ran away
and for seven months lived at the foot on the
Allegheny mountains, holding his clothing or
him BY tying the rags with bits Of string and
subsisting, as he. with a twinkle of his ewes ex-
pressed it. by lest rovin round by which it is
fair to suppose that the ''rovsfs was not always
within the limits Of the law Finally he tired of
this do3ging life and returned to his master
with promises of future good behavior.
Again he was sold. Reaching the
plantation Of his new master he
was led around the house TO the kitchen en-
trance, where sat severll other negroes in the
hand to hand with one Of them, the whole string
OF human woe was com PEELED TO show eayety and
light heartedness by dancing and singing teen
the wepches were brought out. some pretty rnu-
1attos with the paleness and feature delcacv of
their fathers some cool black. The eaptives were
derisivey tod 10 choose each a sweetheart
and gain his freedom. They Kept so
Oh aimed for month, and then, another batch
og slaves arriving, they were all driven to
Vicksburg 10 DO sold, driven, says the old man.
herd Of dumb animals are, with the lash to
stir their tagging footsteps. Over the rough
road they went. wrist fastened to wrist sturnb. |
ling with bruised feet. and when one black arm |
became raw with the rubbing OF the chain, the |
other took its place
Twice after this was George sold. finally be-
coming the property of Asa Brown afterward |
Brown was ono Of Morgan's Terrible men, and |
there had already been three skirmishes when |
they we're surprised at Searenton, Tenn, by |
Generals Dumont and lgoe. George found a |
eral came home on furlouch June 81 1862 |
George accompanied him. remaining in his EN-. |
ploy until the fall of 90
The old Dumont property is situated on the
Three notch road, littls below the Belt cross
ing. "A heap Of haf-burnt bricks marks the
FORMER site OF the ding, Id having been de
stroyed some time in 20. The ground is incosed
by AZ untrimmed hedge, and, like faded beau
~ 10 only family suggestive of past grandeur.
Tho old negro has since lived in the vicinity of
the place, and. though bent with age supports
himself independently. He tells his life history
N quaint mixture Of cabin expressions and
original wording. His rambling is full of IN
pathos, bearing the trace of seriity
and meek acceptance of the inevitable
Plantation marriages were not very binding.
The dusky bride arrayeG herself in her best
usually yly-howered calico--and the plan
fAt-on fr1erQs Assem- bled. A broom was placed
in the middle of the door and over this the bride
groom jumped. repeating the sacred formula;
then holding out his hand. he drew the bride
over, and that was the civil and religious con-
tract husband wife put away at
pleasure and another taken. George went back
10 hunt for his wife and children, but they were
lost to him for all time.